Negotiations end Corinth suicide standoff

CORINTH – A tense standoff between the owner of a U.S. Highway 72 business and Corinth police ended without injury Saturday evening with the business owner who had threatened suicide taken into custody for medical treatment.
Steve Akers, owner of Check to Cash discount Tobacco, 1501B Highway 72 East, was inside his business with a gun and threatening suicide and possibly to burn down the building, said Chief David Lancaster.
Officers responded to the call about 4:43 p.m., but initially were unable to make contact with Akers by phone, the chief said. A family member came and talked with him through a PA system, eventually convincing Akers to talk with the police department’s trained negotiator, Capt. Mike Shipman.
At the same time incident commander Capt. Chuck Hinds had Capt. Randy Dickerson and his special response team on site in case they were needed.
Shipman was able to talk Akers into putting down his gun and laying down on the floor in the front lobby of the business so officers could see him.
Officers entered the business and took Akers into custody about 5:24 p.m., and transported him to Magnolia Regional Health Center for evaluation.